A SPECIAL school has been hailed as a 'wonderful haven' for pupils in a glowing Ofsted report.

Chilworth House Lower School, near Wheatley, has been rated 'outstanding' by the regulator - up from 'good' in 2016.

The independent school teaches children aged five-11, who have a wide range of needs.

Ofsted said: "This is a wonderful school that makes a significant difference to pupils’ lives.

"Pupils, who were previously uninspired, simply flourish during their time here.

"A strong and caring ethos permeates the school - leaders have created a haven where pupils are enthusiastic about their learning, kept safe and thrive."

ALSO READ: Oxford school rated inadequate again

The school, which is just off Junction 8A of the M40, had 36 pupils on roll during the inspection on November 12.

One staff member told Ofsted: "I feel very proud to work here.

"I believe this to be a very special place...I love my job."

Inspectors noted how many pupils arrive with a record of poor attendance and behaviour, with 'low levels of confidence and self-worth', but soon embrace the school's ethos.

They said phrases of encouragement 'reverberate through every classroom'.

The report said children's behaviour is 'expertly managed' and the extracurricular offer is 'dynamic and rich'.

Ofsted said the school's principal Dave Wilcox 'leads with a passion for establishing better life chances for all pupils'.

Their feedback added: "Staff know what works well for each individual and show flair in adapting pupils’ learning.

"Humour, praise and reward abound. Pupils feel they belong."

Chilworth House Upper School, for older pupils, was separately visited by Ofsted in September and received a rating of 'requires improvement'.

Read more about that report here

Both are part of the Witherslack Group, which runs specialist schools across the country.

Principal Mr Wilcox said: "Myself and the staff at Chilworth House [Lower School] are over the moon about the result of our recent Ofsted.

"I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved, as this judgement is not just the result of the team’s effort during inspection, but the culmination of years of hard work and dedication.

"I think myself very fortunate to work with such a committed group of people and can’t thank them enough for all they have done."

The school in Thame Road was rated 'outstanding' in all four core areas assessed, which is the watchdog's top standard.